DENPASAR, Bali — Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating allegations that immigration officials in Bali demanded illegal payments from visa agents before processing residence permits and other immigration documents for foreign nationals, widening a corruption probe that has already implicated several senior immigration officials.
Investigators on Friday questioned two representatives of Bali-based visa service agencies over allegations of so-called “click fees” — unofficial payments allegedly required to move immigration applications through the electronic system at the Ngurah Rai and Denpasar immigration offices.
KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo said the investigation centers on claims that visa agents were asked to pay beyond the government’s official immigration fees to process temporary stay permits (KITAS), permanent stay permits (KITAP), visit permits, and visa-on-arrival applications.
According to investigators, applications were routinely left pending unless the additional payments were made.
“If the agencies did not provide additional payments, the applications would not be processed,” Budi said.
The alleged payments ranged from Rp100,000 to Rp2.5 million (about US$6–150) per application, depending on the type of immigration service requested.
Investigators believe some immigration officers withheld approval of applications in the ministry’s electronic system until extra payments were received. The practice allegedly became known internally as “click money,” referring to the payment required before an application would be approved with a single click.
KPK is also tracing the flow of the funds after receiving information suggesting the money was collected and distributed among multiple officials, including supervisors and higher-ranking personnel.
“There is information indicating that the money collected from agents was pooled and distributed, including to officials at higher levels,” Budi said.
The investigation is part of a broader corruption case involving the processing of residence permits for foreign nationals between 2022 and 2026.
KPK has named eight suspects, including former Deputy Immigration Minister and former Director General of Immigration Silmy Karim, who investigators allege received weekly payments of Rp100 million from the scheme.
Other suspects include current and former senior immigration officials responsible for residence permit and immigration status services.
The anti-graft agency estimates the scheme generated around Rp145.5 billion (approximately US$8.1 million) in illicit payments.
The two visa agency representatives questioned in Bali have not been named as suspects. The investigation remains ongoing.
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